Parade viewing permits in limbo

Savannah City Council members say they have been fielding panicked telephone calls and e-mail about a proposal to charge for locations along the upcoming St. Patrick's Day parade route.

But City Manager Michael Brown has not given council members anything requiring a vote. And one council member suggested it's too late to institute significant changes this year.

The parade is scheduled for March 14.

"It's unfair to implement changes a month and a half before the doggone thing," Alderman Van Johnson said.

The idea of slicing up pieces of squares, parks and other green space along the parade route and selling them first-come, first-served is still sitting on Brown's desk because he is not convinced - thus far - it's the best solution.

"I don't know that I'll recommend that yet," he said. "I think we'll try to have a professional and helpful workshop on that."

After the workshop, there will be public discussion, followed by a public vote.

For the past few years, city officials have been trying to find ways to make securing viewing spots in the city's squares more civilized and fair. As the parade has grown, more and more people have been camping out and destroying portions of the squares.

Last year, Chippewa Square had to be sanitized three times during the St. Patrick's celebration because of urine and vomit.

The city has barred anyone from entering the squares before 3 p.m. the day before the parade. Then, last year, at least two fights broke out in the rush for spaces when 3 p.m. arrived.

The idea of selling $25 permits for pieces of the squares - and other suggestions for managing the parade - surfaced at a weekend symposium organized by Savannah-Chatham police. Permit holders would be responsible for removing trash and equipment, and a city marshal would patrol the permit areas.

Representatives from the New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Boston and Daytona Beach, Fla., police departments took part in the symposium.

The permit proposal came as a surprise to some council members.

"I feel somewhat blindsided when I have to watch the 10 p.m. news to see that we are entertaining changes to the largest event in Savannah without any briefing," Alderman Tony Thomas wrote in an e-mail to fellow council members.

Brown had sent out memos before and after the symposium.

"I want the matter to come before council because ultimately we are responsible for the good and the bad," Alderman Jeff Felser said. "Public safety is our No. 1 concern with everything. I don't want something that is so prohibitive that people can't enjoy their traditions."

Johnson questioned whether there was a need for the change.

"I think we can obviously do something to make it a little more uniform," he said.